Walk, run or stroll in nature during National Wildlife Refuge Week, October 9-15, 2022. Enjoy great outdoor recreation on the nation’s largest network of public lands dedicated to conserving wildlife. wildlife, the National Wildlife Refuge System, administered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Founded in 1903, the National Wildlife Refuges offer access to a host of popular activities while providing vital habitat for thousands of species of wildlife.
“Conserving wildlife habitat and improving recreational access to public lands are key goals of the Biden-Harris administration. America the BEAUTIFUL initiative,” said director of services Martha Williams. “National Wildlife Refuge Week is a great time for Americans to take pride in our rich wildlife heritage and discover the recreation and scenic wonders that await them in national wildlife refuges.”
America the BEAUTIFUL it is a decade-long challenge to lead a locally led, voluntary national effort to conserve, connect, and restore the lands, waters, and wildlife on which we all depend.
National Wildlife Refuge Week occurs annually during the second full week of October. The week of celebrations will kick off on Saturday, October 8, with Urban Wildlife Conservation Day. Admission is free on Sunday, October 9 at wildlife refuges that normally charge an entrance fee. Nearly 500 national wildlife refuges and wetland management districts offer free admission year-round.
This year Refuge System is partnering with the Public Lands Alliance to celebrate our commitments to deepen human connections with nature. As part of Shelter Week, the Service encourages people to get out into nature for good health and help wildlife thrive. More than 30 free, self-guided 5K “Walk for the Wild” events across the country will highlight national wildlife refuges.
The Refuge System offers many healthy outdoor activities, such as fishing, wildlife viewing, and wildlife photography, while also providing vital habitat for thousands of species of wildlife, including sandhill cranes, American alligators, bison and sea turtles. The theme for this year’s Shelter Week is: “Find refuge in nature. Please join us in our mission to make sure wildlife and humans thrive.”
The Refuge System helps many species recover and thrive:
About 340 California condors fly free today, thanks to the efforts of Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge, Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge, and many committed partners. In 1982, there were only 22 known condors in the wild.
Refuge-led tidal marsh restorations in Washington’s San Francisco Bay and Willapa Bay are providing new feeding and nursery areas for salmon and migratory birds, while protecting nearby communities.
The Refuge System is an unparalleled wildlife conservation network of 568 national wildlife refuges and 38 wetland management districts. There’s a national wildlife refuge within an hour’s drive of most major metropolitan areas, and nearly all of them offer free admission year-round. National wildlife refuges provide vital habitat for thousands of species and access to world-class recreation, from fishing, hunting, and boating to nature viewing, photography, and environmental education.
National wildlife refuges contribute $3.2 billion a year to local economies and support more than 41,000 jobs, according to the Service’s report. banking in nature. Visits to refuges have doubled in the last 10 years, reaching nearly 65 million visits in 2021. National wildlife refuges also improve lives by conserving wildlife, protecting against erosion and flooding, and purifying the environment. air and water.
More than 101 million Americans, 40 percent of the US population age 16 and older, seek wildlife-related recreation, including hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing.
Learn more about this year’s celebration, including virtual and in-person events, by visiting: https://fws.gov/events.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continued benefit of the American people. For more information visit www.fws.gov, or connect with us through any of these social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Youtube Y Flickr.